KMGA

KMGA (99.5 FM) is a radio station licensed to serve Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. The station is owned by Cumulus Media. Its studios are located in Downtown Albuquerque and the transmitter tower is located atop Sandia Crest east of the city.

KMGA
CityAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Broadcast areaAlbuquerque/Santa Fe, New Mexico
Frequency99.5 MHz
BrandingMagic 99-5
SloganToday's Best Mix
Programming
FormatAdult contemporary
Ownership
OwnerCumulus Media
(Radio License Holding CBC, LLC)
KDRF, KKOB, KKOB-FM, KOBQ, KNML, KRST, KTBL
History
First air date
November 11, 1963 (as KARA-FM)
Former call signs
KARA-FM (1963-1966)
KBNM-FM (1966-1974)
KMYR (1974-1974)
KZZX (1977-1985)[1]
Call sign meaning
MaGic Albuquerque
Technical information
Facility ID11231
ClassC
ERP22,500 watts
(with beam tilt)
HAAT1,259 meters (4,131 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
35°12′44″N 106°26′58″W
Links
WebcastListen live
Websitewww.magic995abq.com

Programming

KMGA broadcasts an adult contemporary music format to the greater Albuquerque/Santa Fe, New Mexico, area for about 11 months of the year.[2] Notable personalities on the station include syndicated hosts Delilah and John Tesh and local hosts Jon Allen along with Meredith Dunkel and Chris Fox of "The Meredith and Fox Show" in the morning beginning in June 2015.[3] Another change in mornings happened in November 2016 when Meredith was joined by a new co-host, Doug Durocher from San Bernardino, CA. In January 2017 Bryan Simmons joined KMGA as program director from Los Angeles, California. In June 2017 a new host Steph Duran from sister station KRST joined the morning show replacing Meredith Dunkel who left for a new job in Tucson AZ. The show is now billed as the Magic Morning Show with Doug & Duran.

Scott Simon and Rachel Michaels had hosted "Magic in the morning with Simon and Rachel" beginning in late May 2014. Simon and Rachel had moved over from country sister station KRST 92.3 which at that time had picked up the Nash FM brand as well as the national morning show.[4] However Simon and Rachel were out after 11 months.[5] Phil Moore had previously hosted mornings for seventeen years before retiring. By May 2012, KMGA became the market's only AC station. KMGA on January 1, 2018 rebranded the slogan using the handle "Today's Best Mix" and keep the music and shows the same. KMGA remains an AC station with a focus on 80's gold till now.

Christmas music

KMGA has always played Christmas music between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Like most AC radio stations around the country, KMGA changes its format each year to playing all Christmas music beginning sometime in mid-to-late November until December 26. The slogan used during this period is "Albuquerque's Home for the Holidays".

In November 2017 Christmas music began the second week of November starting more earlier than usual. In another unusual move Christmas music was also featured throughout Labor Day weekend in 2020 branded as "Quarantine Christmas" to "lift the spirits" of listeners in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

History

The station was assigned the KMGA call sign by the Federal Communications Commission on September 18, 1985.[1]

Jingles and imaging

Currently KMGA uses Pure AC Bright. KMGA commissioned the Brighter version, and WWLI, also owned by Cumulus, commissioned the Lighter version.

In the past KMGA used various packages from Reelworld until 2014.

KMGA uses the Benztown AC library for imaging, along with other AC stations owned by Cumulus.

References
  1. "Call Sign History". FCC Media Bureau CDBS Public Access Database. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  2. "Station Information Profile". Arbitron. Retrieved August 4, 2009.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2015-07-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/88899/cumulus-plays-albuquerque-morning-shuffle/
  5. http://www.insideradio.com/people_moves/scott-simon-rachel-michaels/article_10ab93bc-ee38-11e4-b064-838eadbcf09a.html
  6. https://www.facebook.com/Magic995ABQ/photos/a.10150631415047050/10157421613247050/?type=3&theater
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